Fontana receives state housing grant

Fontana has received a $625,000 grant from the California Housing and Community Development Department, money it will use to speed up housing construction downtown.

“We are going to use this grant to address the housing crisis beginning with downtown Fontana,” Mayor Acquanetta Warren said during a recent news conference announcing the grant. “The City of Fontana is a working-class community that understands the importance of providing housing options for all working-family budgets.”

Fontana is using the grant money to update its zoning and development codes, expedite its planning permit process and prepare an environmental document that will eliminate environmental reviews for specific projects.

The Sierra Avenue corridor in downtown has been designated an opportunity zone by the U.S. Department of Treasury. A six-story residential building with a ground level designed for commercial and retail use has been designated for that part of the city, according to a statement.